let's talk about the fiscal cliff. the president says the republicans have to agree to raising the marginal tax rate for the wealthiest top 2% from 35%. does he mean it has to go back up to 39.6% as was the case during the clinton administration or is there some wiggle room in between 35% and 39.6%? >> the president has repeatedly said there's room for compromise. but what this boils down to is a matter of fairness and a matter of math. giving certainty to the middle class is essential. there's no way mathematically, if you look at the republican's proposal, that you can get to the deficit reduction that we need to with preserving the middle class tax cuts by not increasing as the republicans refuse to do the upper tier rates. there's room for discussion, but that -- >> so the 39.6%, that's not a red line? >> as far as i know and the conversations i've had, the president has said there's room for compromise, but for the red line to be drawn in the sand by republicans to say that an increase in rates on the wealthiest a